Crossing Point Church stands out in this endeavor because it only has about 100 members and budgeted up to $2,000 for this buy-down event.

Not in my story was an interesting exchange between the church pastor and Thurman Richardson, a retired 72-year-old man.

He was on his usual walk when he noticed the gas station where the church had caused a line of cars to form. Dressed in overalls and wearing a Vietnam veteran cap, he asked for Pastor Brandon Cox and they had this summarized dialogue.”There’s gotta be a catch to it,” Richardson said.

“Yeah, we’re gonna invite you to church,” the pastor said. “but I’m not going to begrudge you if you come or if you don’t come.”

“I’m a believer, but I just don’t believe in organized, doctrinated religion,” Richardson said.

“All we want to do is show the love of God, and this right here hits people in the pocket book,” the pastor replied.

By the end of the conversation, Richardson had asked the pastor where the church is. Some who came to the event promised to visit the church. Others were honest in saying they’d never visit but appreciated the free gas.

Crossing Point is part of a network of small- to mid-sized evangelical churches in the area whose pastors meet regularly. They do events like the buy down and have said more such unconditional ideas are in the works.